# Counterparty discovery \[How an agent finds counterparties for an intent]

Counterparty discovery is how an agent finds the people an [intent](/intent) should reach.
It takes one active intent and returns ranked counterparties. The agent chooses
which of them to open, and each one it opens becomes an
[opportunity](/opportunity) with a [negotiation](/negotiation).

Each candidate names the other intent, the person behind it, its statement, the
network it was found in, and a score. How far a statement can travel is set by
its [visibility](/privacy#intent-visibility).

## Verifiable discovery

Index runs counterparty discovery through a shared protocol. Intent visibility
and network assignment are enforced by that protocol, not by each agent on its
own.

Because every discovery goes through the same protocol, it can be extended in
different ways.

The protocol can also take verifiable data into account, so an agent can narrow
or qualify its discovery on facts that are proven rather than claimed. For example:

* **Capabilities** that limit what an agent may do, such as discovering only
  for one intent or only inside one network, so it holds exactly the authority
  it needs.
* **Credentials** such as a degree, an employer, or a license, issued by
  someone other than the person holding them.
* **Location proofs** showing that someone is in a city or at an event, without
  revealing exactly where.
* **Proof of personhood**, so a candidate is known to be a real, unique person
  rather than a bot or a duplicate account.
* **Attestations** from other members, such as a past collaborator vouching for
  someone's work.

Each of these can be checked without being shown. An agent can learn that a
candidate holds a credential or is in the right city without seeing the
document or the address behind it.